Pardon me if I seem oblivious to the correct terminology I will express..

I have a 1996 e320 Mercedes and last month while in Las Vegas my a/c stopped blowing cold.
I took it to a mechanic and they determined (for $100) that my compressor locked up and needed to be changed.
I drove in 117 degree temps 230 miles to my condo in California and had it checked out again out here and they
charged me ANOTHER $130 this time to tell me the same thing..
I purchased my a/c compressor for just over $300 brand new (supposedly) on Ebay and just got enough money
to have a mechanic install it for $350 labor.
When he called and told me it was ready today he said good and bad news..
Good news it blows really cold, bad news is he's afraid to run the a/c without his auto shop fan blowing on my condenser
because ONE of the two dual condenser fans is not working (not sure what the proper term for these dual connected fans are
called, if someone can tell me) I called around and unfortunately you must replace both fans that cool the compressor.
I noticed also that there was a green substance spilled in the bottom of the car and close by the compressor.
I was told it was the oils from the compressor because the high pressure valve was spurting out this fluid because it's getting
too hot because that one fan was not keeping it sufficiently cool and I shouldn't operate the a/c until changing these two fans.

I next went to a so-called Mercedes/German car specialist and his observation told me that the ONE fan not operating shouldn't harm
my compressor so I turned the a/c on (100 degree day) and 2 min. later I here a pressure release sound under the hood.

I pull over and more of that green fluid was sprayed all over the place.

My questions are..

What is the technical term of the dual fans they are referring to (is it called auxiliary fans, condenser fans) these are the two fans
and there is still the main fan for a total of 3 which I believe is for the radiator and is belt driven

Also do you think that is why the pressure is being released in that green substance because of the heat and not cooling sufficiently?

Are both of the fans on one or two motors and why would only one be on and the other not on?

Any information would be extremely helpful as i'm already in this job almost $1000 and it seems all for nothing especially when I'm seeing this dual fan at about $500 just for the part if that is what it is..

I really have no money left and have been using my credit card to pay this far so any money saving tips would be appreciated. I'm just afraid to put this $500 fans on it new and it not be the problem.

Thanks
Haraq

 

both fans must run together, or else the belt is broken (only one got the motor).

if the temp is too high inside the a/c system, the pressure increases... and it therefore purge the R134a (since it's over 24 bar already) to protect the hoses and other components.

replace the belt (164).

[IMG]local://upfiles/1/877869E751CC4929BF874EB544B5560B.jpg[/IMG]

 

Thank You for your prompt response.

So on that dual condenser fan is also a belt which turns the fan on the passenger side from the motor on the fan on the driver side?

Then I don't have to replace the entire unit and the belt itself is replaceable alone right?

Thanks
Haraq

 

exactly.